Motivator Dome Panel 1.1

Over the weekend, i glued up the pieces i had for the panel. It's made so that it's a snug, drop-in fit. PVA watered down glue was applied all over and left to dry. A light sanding then followed.

Here is the almost pre-finished motivator dome panel build.

Motivator Dome Panel 1.0

Decided to make a start on a panel to cover the Motivator pie hole, in case I needed a pie panel to cover it, think that explains it lol.

I used cardboard templates first, then cut out side supports. I've also made a piece that will be the fake upper 'groove'.

This is where the new panel is going to fit.

These two images show the inside upright supports that the panel will be attached to.

Foot base work continued.....

Foot base work continued.....

This has been ongoing now for over a few month's, but am now back on the case.....

Marked the recessed slots that can be seen around the lower edge. I then used my dremel to router them out.

Then wood filler was applied all over to smooth everything and fill in the wood grain.
I drilled holes in the four corners and used the jigsaw to cut out the main opening. Next I had to cut and fitt the lower lip edge, that is on the bottom of the foot.

Monday 30th December
Well with the family off to watch Cinderella at the Hippodrome, i had a bit of time to work on R5. I used the jigsaw to cut out the lower centre rectangle. After sanding the edges, i started to rummage through my scrap wood pile for material for the 'skirt' part of the foot. Cut the strips to length, miter the ends, drilled clearance holes in the 'skirts', before using panel pins to secure in place.

Next will be wood filler to blend in the 'skirt' detail parts.

Merry Christmas 2013

I'd like to wish everyone a very

Happy New Year!

thanks for following my blog this last year and I hope it's been of help.

Happy building to all!

Front Vents 2.3 - Lower Centre Vent

Ive not been able to do much work at home, and it has been REALLY frustrating going out to the garage to get things and just having to glance at R5, say 'sorry buddy' and walk out again!

Today I'd had enough, the stars had aligned........somewhere, and i got 5mins (45mins) in the garage and thought I'd make a start on cutting out the lower centre vent opening. Well, I couldnt just cut out the hole, I had to go all out and make sure it would fit lol.

Used the dremel with drill attachment first, then gradually used it fitted with sanding drum to get final shape.

Next is to create a fixing bracket.

New Project....? - A Clear Dome R3-T6

Since borrowing Ian's R3 Clear Dome, at Corsham earlier this year.

I thought how cool it would be to own one so R5 could be converted, slightly into R3-T6.

This droid was seen very briefly in 'A New Hope' on the Death Star.

The main differences between R5-D4 & R3-T6

are the Large Data Port & Centre Vent surround being red, not blue.
And his panels on his rear. These can be red vinyl stickers.

Oh and their Domes, of course.

Here's my R5 at Corsham earlier this year with Ian's Clear Dome.

So watch this space....... :-)

Rear Dome Rod - fitted

Just a small update, as forgot......oooops.

Rear Dome Rod fitted.

Rear Dome Rod - fitting

R5's rear Dome Rod was one of the first pieces I made, machined up.

Because of it's length and available scrap material also available time

as it was machined up on my lunchtime. I made it in two pieces.

This came in handy as now when trying to fit it into R5's recessed Dome boxes, it's a little snug. So a little bit of machining later and it will fit alot better.

Space inside R5's Dome is limited, a bit more than I had anticipated. My original idea was to bolt the Rod in place, top and bottom. See pic below.

Threaded the bottom and screwed a stud into it. Left piece, this will slot into the lower hole.

The top piece was going to be located with the M6 hex socket bolt.

But on installing the recessed box, I knew that the lower screw was not going to be available due to the framework inside. This wasn't to much to worry about as the lower piece of the rod has a location pin. Now for the top securing of it......?

The two piece Rod, allowed me to fit a washer and a soft spring inside to allow the top pieces location pin, to locate and hold the Rod in place.

Motivator Base Plate - UPGRADE

Used the first plate as a guide, I marked onto a new piece of scrap aluminium,

the same mounting hole positions and drilled through.

These are the two holes furthest apart [top & bottom in pictures]

I then marked the new position for the motivator securing bolt to go through [middle hole],

which is off-centre now to the securing bolt holes, and drilled.

This will allow the Motivator's position to fit better in the Pie Hole opening.

Motivator Base Plate, 1st attempt on left, UPGRADE version on right.
(which still needs a hole for wires to fit through)

R5-D4's Head 4.5 - Pie panels grooved

Tried to use Stanley knife to score out the grooves, then my 'grooving tool',

but this was not going well and would of taken forever!! Lol.

So tried my Dremel with metal milling cutter fitted. (this is not the right cutter, but was all I had, that was flat bottomed and roughly the right width). It worked a treat.

Depth was set using the Dremel router attachment.

An hour later, carefully cutting free hand, seven pie sections finished.

They just need a little work, but am really happy with how them.